Kashmir gets due credit: YJHD makers retort

The recent outburst of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the portrayal of locales of Kashmir as Manali in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani may well have been misplaced. The makers of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani have now claimed...

The recent outburst of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the portrayal of locales of Kashmir as Manali in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani may well have been misplaced.

The makers of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani have now claimed that credit rolls already carry the names of the entire Kashmir crew.

The Times of India quoted a spokesperson for Karan Johar's Dharma Productions as saying, "The opening credit slate clearly mentions Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Tourism Minister GA Mir and Inspector-General of Police SM Sahal. The names of the entire crew in Kashmir has been mentioned in the credits of the film."

Omar earlier wrote on Twitter, "It's irritating when we roll out the red carpet & facilitate the shoot only to have people believe its Manali. Artistic Licence #YJHD."

"Those of you planning to visit Manali because of what you saw in #YJHD you should know except for the Temple & Span resort it's ALL Gulmarg," the Kashmir chief minister wrote.

Earlier this year, many scenes and song sequences of the movie by Ayan Mukerji were shot at various locations in the Valley including the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

The chief minister, a movie buff himself, had also hosted a dinner for the Bollywood stars at Gulmarg.

Omar, who has not watched the movie yet, had his doubts about the state being mentioned in the credits of the film. "If anyone has seen the movie can you tell me whether they have at least mentioned the state in the credits (opening or closing) #YJHD," he wrote.

Two questions: Shouldn’t the chief minister watch the film first? Also, why say Manali when it’s heaven-on-earth Kashmir where you shot film?